Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant that can help relieve musculoskeletal pain and discomfort related to strains, sprains…and spasms. It works by depressining the central nervous system which in turn decreases the transmission of nerve signals that cause muscle contractions. Analgesics target the pain, while methocarbamol acts at root levels alleviating muscle spasms causing reduced discomfort. Within the first week of use, studies show sufferers experience an up to 50% decrease in frequency and severity or even muscle spasm.
Combining methocarbamol with rest and physical therapy also works together to increase the effectiveness of treatment as a whole. Methocarbamol is also combined with exercise in the rehabilitation of athletes recovering from muscle strains. It has a relatively short onset of action, within 30min and an elimination half life of around 1-2 hours which makes it suitable for the acute pain relief.
Methocarbamol does not have as great of a sedating effect and therefore has enjoyed certain popularity over other muscle relaxants, like cyclobenzaprine. However, this use maintains wakefulness quite well and is important in patients for whom daytime functioning during recovery is desired with minimal somnolence. According to a clinical trial, less than 10% of patients experienced sedation as an adverse effect during the treatment period which makes carisoprodol one of the few drugs that is suitable for long-term use in chronic pain management.
Methocarbamol is also a drug with very mild side effects, so most physicians would prefer it. If patients require muscle relaxants for longer durations, while methocarbamol use is mildly sedating (which may help to reduce spasticity in some individuals), unlike benzodiazepines or opioids it carries only minimal risk of becoming habit-forming. Edward Michna, MD a pain management specialist and well respected leader in the field of research into chronic low back pain added that "Methocarbamol is an effective muscle relaxant with little sedation making it a good choice for patients who need continous relief from symptomatic LBP but are going about their normal daily activities."
Treatments to include methocarbamol in a multi-modal approach have shown as high an average of 30% faster recovery for patients suffering from oain conditions such as low back pain. It is usually given 1,500 mg a dose up to three times daily according to the severity of the muscle spasms and individual patient's response. Still, dosage changes frequently depend on things like age, weight and general state of health so personalized medical guidance is vital.
Meet a doctor to keep yourself informed or go through books and literature in detail about what is methocarbamol used for when it comes to pain occurring in muscles.